BAE Systems Receives U.S. Air Force Contract for Crashworthy Seats on C-130s

Feb 28 20112011-02-28T01:00:00+01:00

BAE Systems has received an $8.4 million U.S. Air Force contract to provide crashworthy seats for C-130 aircraft. The specially designed seats will help protect crewmembers in the event of mishaps or hard landings. The company will develop, test, and install as many as 88 seat systems to enhance the survivability of the crew during normal, emergency, and combat operations.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia – BAE Systems has received an $8.4 million U.S. Air Force contract to provide crashworthy seats for C-130 aircraft. The specially designed seats will help protect crewmembers in the event of mishaps or hard landings. The company will develop, test, and install as many as 88 seat systems to enhance the survivability of the crew during normal, emergency, and combat operations.

This work builds on BAE Systems’ strong history of performance in support of the C-130 community. The company has designed, supported, and completed more than 200 modifications to C-130 variants over the past 12 years.

The contract was awarded by the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. The work will be conducted at BAE Systems operations in Crestview, Florida; Mojave, California; and Phoenix, Arizona.

“This important readiness and sustainment contract will provide a cost-effective, rapidly deployable solution for the warfighter,” said Gordon Eldridge, vice president and general manager of Aerospace Solutions at BAE Systems Support Solutions. “This win also builds on our support to the Tactical Airlift Division, a key customer at the Air Logistics Center.”

The new seat systems are needed by the Air Force to ensure the safety of the aircrew during emergencies. The ability of the crew to survive unhurt, facilitated by crashworthy seats, is paramount during extreme landing situations and for quick evacuations from the aircraft.